Conor McGregor has launched a scathing attack on his longtime rival Khabib Nurmagomedov ahead of his return to the octagon at UFC 329.
The Irish fighter faces Max Holloway in the main event at Las Vegas's T-Mobile Arena on Saturday, marking his first competitive appearance in five years after a broken leg suffered in a 2021 loss to Dustin Poirier.
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McGregor Questions Nurmagomedov's Record
In an interview with Complex, McGregor dismissed the undefeated Russian's achievements, saying, “Come on, the guy’s done nothing in the sport.
Thirteen fights he’s had in the company, that’s it, and three against named opponents.”
McGregor previously lost to Nurmagomedov via submission at the same venue in a lightweight title bout that became the highest-grossing UFC event ever.
He claimed personal distractions affected his performance, including partying, legal issues, and a fractured foot before the fight.
“I was off the yacht, I was doing bad things on the yacht.
I was partying heavily, and I was up to my eyeballs in court cases,” McGregor said.
He added that he fought four rounds with a broken foot, referencing an injury shown in a Netflix documentary.
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McGregor criticized Nurmagomedov's decision to retire in 2020 at age 32 after his father's death, saying, “No courage, the man has no courage.
The man has succumbed to his pain, and it is a damn shame.”
He also dismissed the idea of watching any of Nurmagomedov's fights, stating, “I have nothing to say to him, nothing to say about him.”
McGregor further questioned Nurmagomedov's record, alleging a lack of weight diversity and finishing ability.
“Never fought above weight divisions, missed weight, three fights [against world champions], no stoppages, no knockouts,” he said.
Official records show Nurmagomedov had eight knockout or technical knockout wins, 11 submissions, and 10 decisions.
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McGregor enters the bout after a 2024 legal verdict finding him liable for sexual assault and a drug-test whereabouts suspension that ended in March.
